DATE FOR AN INDYCAR RACE IN TORONTO. A MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING A DAYCARE VEHICLE WITH FIVE CHILDREN INSIDE APPEARED IN COURT TO FACE A JUDGE. BRENTON SIMMONS IS CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF KIDNAPPING. RYAN KORSGARD HAS MORE FROM THE COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON. Reporter: THE JUDGE IN THIS CASE FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE. THAT MEANINGS IT WILL HEAD TO COURT AND HE ALSO INCREASED THE BOND TO $250,000. 24-YEAR-OLD BRENTON SIMMONS APPEARS BEFORE A MAGISTRATE JUDGE. HE IS CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF AUTO THEFT AND KIDNAPPING. HE'S ACCUSED OF STEALING AN SUV FROM OUTSIDE THIS JACK IN THE BOX ON WEST WE WILL FORTUNATE IN -- BELLFORT AND TAKING OFF WITH FIVE KIDS INSIDE. THIS DEFENDANT GOT INTO THAT VEHICLE AND BEGAN DRIVING OFF WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE COMPLAINANT GOT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CHASED THE DEFENDANT, YELLING AT HIM TO STOP THE CAR, YELLING AT HIM WITH YARD TO THE CHILDREN. HE CONTINUED ON. Reporter: THE SUV'S DRIVER SAID SHE QUICKLY RAN INTO THE RESTAURANT TO GET HER SON. THAT'S WHEN SHE SAID A MAN JUMPED IN AND TOOK OFF WITH THE SUV AND THE FIVE KIDS INSIDE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. POLICE SAID THE SUV WAS PARKED WITH ITS ENGINE RUNNING. OFFICERS FOUND THE SUV ABOUT THREE HOURS LATER IN CINCO RANCH IN FORT BEND COUNTY. THE FIVE KIDS WERE NOT HURT. POLICE CHASED THE DEFENDANT FOR TWO MILES BEFORE THE DEFENDANT STOPPED AND SURRENDERED. Reporter: THE NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IN THIS CASE IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY. IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, RYAN KORSGARD, KPRC LOCAL 2.

HOUSTON -

The suspect accused of stealing a day care vehicle with five children inside appeared in court overnight.

Brenton Alex Simmons, 24, was charged with five counts of kidnapping. His total bond was set at $250,000.

In court Friday, a prosecutor read the allegation against Simmons, saying, "This defendant got into that vehicle -- the keys were in it -- and began driving off with the children in the car. The complainant got into another vehicle and chased the defendant. Yelling at him to stop the car. Yelling at him in regards to the children. He continued on."

Simmons is expected in court on Tuesday to have an attorney appointed to his case.

A day care worker left two girls and three boys alone inside a running vehicle at a Jack in the Box in the 8600 block of West Bellfort at South Gessner.

He hopped into the van and drove away, with the children screaming and people chasing behind.

"I was telling him (one of the children) to come on and I turned around and opened the door, and when I opened the door to tell him to come on, the man jumped in my car," said the day care vehicle's driver Latonya Jackson.

Bobby Johnson was at the Jack in the Box when it happened. After hearing the children scream, he ran outside and started chasing after the van on foot.

Johnson said he eventually lost sight of the van, and that's when he pulled out his phone and called 911.

HPD homicide investigators, in coordination with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office and Harris County Precinct 5 deputy constables, located the suspect, children and stolen vehicle at 22300 Cinco Ranch Boulevard in Fort Bend County around 9:15 p.m. They were able to find the children using a GPS signal from a cellphone inside the van.

Local 2 spoke exclusively with the 9-year-old who called 911 from inside a carjacked vehicle Wednesday night.

"It was in a cup holder in the back seat, so I grabbed it and called 911," Alex Veasley said.

Alex and an 11-year-old boy told a dispatcher what was going on and where they were. Shortly after that call, they saw the flashing police lights that meant they would soon be free.

"I was like, 'Yes!' And I was happy because I could finally go home because I was exhausted," said Veasley.

The children were reunited with their parents Wednesday night.

Copyright 2014 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Advertisement

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.